After this, king Edward prouiding for the suertie of his subiects against the forraies, which the Danes vsed to make, fortified diuers cities and townes, and stuffed them with great garrisons of [Sidenote:  The English nation practised in wars go commonlie awaie with the victorie.] souldiers, to defend the inhabitants, and to expell the enimies.  And suerlie the Englishmen were so invred with warres in those daies, that the people being aduertised of the inuasion of the enimies in anie part of their countrie, would assemble oftentimes without knowledge of king or capteine, and setting vpon the enimies, went commonlie awaie with victorie, by reason that they ouermatched them both in number and practise.  So were the enimies despised of the English souldiers, [Sidenote:  Hen.  Hunt.] and laughed to scorne of the king for their foolish attempts.  Yet in the third yeare of king Edwards reigne, Adelwold his brother came with a nauie of Danes into the parties of the Eastangles, and euen [Sidenote:  Essex yeelded to Adelwold. Ran.  Higd.] at the first the Essex men yeelded themselues vnto him.  In the yeere following he inuaded the countrie of Mercia with a great armie, wasting and spoiling the same vnto Crikelade, and there passing ouer [Sidenote:  Brittenden.] the Thames, rode foorth till he came to Basingstoke, or (as some bookes haue) Brittenden, harieng the countrie on each side, and so returned backe vnto Eastangles with great ioy and triumph.

[Sidenote:  Henr.  Hunt.] King Edward awakened heerewith assembled his people, and followed the enimies, wasting all the countries betwixt the riuer of Ouse and saint Edmunds ditch.  And when he should returne, he gaue commandement that no man should staie behind him, but come backe togither for [Sidenote:  The Kentishmen disobeing the kings commandement, are surprised by the enimies.  Adelwold king Edwards brother.] doubt to be forelaid by the enimies.  The Kentishmen notwithstanding this ordinance and commandement, remained behind, although the king sent seuen messengers for them.  The Danes awaiting their aduantage, came togither, and fiercelie fought with the Kentishmen, which a long time valiantlie defended themselues.  But in the end the Danes obtained the victorie, although they lost more people there than the Kentishmen did:  and amongst other, there were slaine the foresaid Adelwold, and diuerse of the chiefe capteins amongst the Danes.  Likewise of the English side, there died two dukes, Siwolfe & Singlem or Sigbelme, with sundrie other men of name, both temporall and also spirituall lords and abbats.  In the fift yeere of his reigne, king Edward concluded a truce with the Danes of Eastangle and Northumberland at Itingford.  But in the yeere following, he sent an armie against them [Sidenote:  Fortie daies saith Simon Dun.] of Northumberland, which slue manie of the Danes, and tooke great booties both of people and cattell, remaining in the countrie the space of fiue weekes.